Love A.D.D.erall

At 21 they diagnosed me with AD/HD & gave me smart pills. My grades shot up & my future brightened & some said I was better. But I am numb inside of this drug. People I love become distant strangers sometimes, so proud of me for victories I didn’t earn. How do I tell them I am not what I do or have done. I’ll never be happy on this drug, but I’ll never be successful without it. If only I could Love Adderall.

The New Pink Adderall

Ever wonder why your pills come in different shapes and colors, depending on which pharmacy you use?

When a new medication is invented, its manufacturers are awarded a patent on it for a certain number of years. Other companies can manufacture that drug only after its patent runs out. When other companies start to manufacture the drug, their generic versions of it are cheaper, have different imprints, and sometimes come in different shapes, colors, or even sizes. This is also the reason why Adderall and Ritalin are so much cheaper than newer drugs like Adderall XR and Focalin, as the latter two have yet to go generic.

I’ve been thinking about this issue a lot lately, not out of pure intellectual curiosity but because I’m not sure the generic forms of adderall are as good as the originals.

Several generic forms of 20 mg Adderall are on the market now. My university pharmacy carries the kind with the cross in the middle, the kind which recently changed dyes from orange to pink. (I’m not sure what it’s official name is, but it says “Dex/Amphetamine Salt” on the side of the pill bottle, and has “cor 135″ imprinted on the pill).

I find noticeable differences between this new pink Adderall and the various orange pills I took in the past. Side effects like dehydration and appetite suppression are not as severe as they were on the original, orange kind. But the new pinks also seem to make me more jittery, meaning I don’t concentrate as well as I used to on the old orange standbys.

All of this may have something to do with my increased tolerance, and with the fact that I don’t take “drug holidays” as often as I probably should. The pharmaceutical companies say the drugs are exactly identical. No surprise there–what else would they say?

96 Comments »

  aikahi wrote @

I first started taking adderall 2 years ago and started out on the oval orange 20mg pills. A month later I went to get a refill and they gave me the circle pills like the ones you have displayed.

Its funny you mentioned being jittery because I had that same experience as well. Also, I had plenty of bad trips! I thought it was just me but when switching back to the old oval pills, everything was all good! The new pink pills might be suspect!

I never tried the brand type because no one here carries it, only generic. But I guess the oval oranges will do lol! The hell with the pink pills!

Yes! There is definitely a difference!

  Mel wrote @

Where can I get the pink adderall from – I live in the UK? Yhanks

  JMO wrote @

I live in Houston,Tx and have been taking Adderall for the past 3 yrs; I started when I was 21 and have taken all of the following:
* 20mg Adderall XR (Brand Name)
* 20mg Adderall D-Amphetamine Salt Combo (Orange – Generic)
*30mg Adderall D-Amphetamine Salt Combo (Orange – Generic)
*20mg Adderall Adderall D-Amphetamine Salt Combo (Pink COR 135 – Generic)

All of my prescriptions have been filled by Walgreens and today is my first time to take the pink ones. I took two this morning around 7:30AM but haven’t noticed any of the usual side-effects I normally get from the orange ones: dry/cotton mouth, increased Heart Rate, jitters(not bad jitters, just interal like I feel I need to be doing something productive), or increased body temp.

I have read alot of these blogs and have seen where people are mentioning that they like the Pink cross-haired COR 135 Adderalls better than the orange ones, but I feel the opposite. Not only do I not have the normal side-effects (not necessarily a bad thing), but I don’t feel the ‘focus’ I usually get from the orange ones.

Is there anyone else out there who feels like these pink ones are as bogus as I do, or am I alone in this thought?

  chuck wrote @

yes ser im with ya on that one, i do think the pink ones are bogus, i could definatly tell that i took them but they didnt work no where near as well as the 20 mg capsules or the orange ones also

  Brad L. wrote @

I’ve been on D-AMPHETAMINE SALT COMBO 20MG TABS (Generic for ADDERALL), taken twice daily (40mg/day), for the last couple years. I’ve always filled my prescriptions at Walgreens, and I’ve been very happy with their choice of generic medication manufacturers, until recently. I went to pick up my generic for Adderall (Manuf: Barr Lab. Inc. / Peach Oval-shaped b 973) and I find pink cross-haired COR 135 (Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. and CorePharma) and I figured it wouldn’t make any difference at all so I took my 20mg pill and went about my day. I started wondering why I was constantly losing focus and figured that perhaps it just has a slower release so I didn’t think too much of it. Then I began feeling really fidgety, which isn’t too uncommon for me, but I felt as if the side-effects were much worse than usual and the actual “focus” feeling was much weaker. This may have been due to the obnoxious uneasiness feeling, adding just another distraction to an individual with A.D.H.D.

Before I go on I’m going to briefly explain my personal background. I have (been “diagnosed” with) the A.D.H.D. Combined Type, which is both the Inattentive type (formerly know in the DSM as A.D.D.) and Hyperactive/Impulsive type. Adderall (I will be using this term, despite that specifically I’m referring to a generic, to avoid exhaustive explanations of type and manuf.) has always been specifically aimed at my inattentive tendencies and not necessarily hyperactivity/impulsivity, and despite the occasional tic and fidgeting it has been extremely helpful. It gets me up in the morning and helps me finish my tasks as quickly and effectively as possible. I also suffer from depression and anxiety, and Adderall actually has been quite effective at helping my depression but not so much with the anxiety (for obvious reasons). Lastly I will inform you that I’m currently also taking Paxil 40mg/day (for depression/anxiety), and occasionally Alprazolam (Xanax) 0.5mg/day when I have extreme anxiety.

So, back to my story… After two or three days of wishful thinking that these new pink pills may eventually start serving their purpose, I came to the conclusion that it’s definitely a less effective generic for Adderall. I thought I was alone in my opinion and that it would be ridiculous that a different manufacturer could really make that big of a difference. That’s when I stumbled across this site while using a search engine to see if anyone else has noticed the difference. I’m extremely relieved that I’m not just going insane, but there really is something less effective with higher side-effects about the new pink pill or as described @ goliath.com as “Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. and CorePharma, LLC in an Alliance to Maximize The Commercialization of a Generic Version of Adderall(R).”

I don’t think we should just allow this to happen, we can complain all we want about this and blog about it until are fingers fall off but that’s not going to change anything. I went and spoke to the pharmacist at my local Walgreens and apparently this generic is the only one they will be carrying from here out. Better yet, he even told me that numerous people have came in complaining about the ineffectiveness of the new generic. I’ve filed a complaint to the Walgreens Pharmacy about the switch of manufacturers from Barr Lab. Inc. to Ranbaxy Pharm. Inc. and CorePharma. I personally have decided I will be taking my business elsewhere, and alone that will do nothing but with a united group we can change this. Talk to your Pharmacist and explain your disappointment with this new pink pill, and I would recommend looking else where to fill your medications. Search your local pharmacies for Barr Lab. Inc. manufactured D-AMPHETAMINE SALT COMBO TABS, many other pharmacies still carry the effective generic.

I’ve you have any questions or have an idea of how to make a difference, please feel free to contact me at bradlab@iastate.edu, myspace.com/bradswinterwonderland, or just on this site. I would love to hear if this is something we could make happen, and I’m honestly very set on the fact that the new generic just won’t do. Sorry about how long this is and I’m not trying to start some huge boycott of Walgreens, because it’s the corporate area of the Pharmacy that makes these decisions. I just want people to know, because I’m not happy right now with the fact that my insurance won’t pay for me to get a refill at another pharmacy until 21 days after last refill, so it’s out of pocket or deal with it. Hope this has been helpful and I really would enjoy feedback and further discussion on this topic.

-Brad L.

  Brad L. wrote @

You said that you live in the Houston area. I do too, and the pharmacies that I live around don’t carry the Original Adderall made by Barr Lab. I was diagnosed as ADHD and depression. The Original Orange Oval Shaped Adderall worked very well with me. I got much better. Then, I went to order my meds thru the mail, started getting the pink ones. They don’t work, they suck. Then, there is another orange brand that is simialar to the Original Orange Adderall, they don’t work either. By any chance do you know what Pharmacy supplies the Original Adderall Brand manufactured by Barr Labratories? Because the generic pink and generic orange don’t work on me at all. Thanks! Charlotte

  Brad wrote @

BRad,

I just got the new pink adderall from walgreens today. I plan on taking it back for a full refund and speaking to the manager on site. I agree with your proposition and will be taking my business elsewhere.
The chore now is to find out where…

  tommy wrote @

Hi
I just had a real bad experiance. and i meanrealy bad
3 years ago i nearly diead see i cant even spell it well it was accute global messinteric ischemia thats another one i have aharad time with I looked fine but i blacked out and the couldnot find any thing wrong? 3 days later I started to shutdown they opend me up my gut was gangreen two of the three doctorswanted to let me go only one wanted to try . I survived actuly it was way more than just the fact that i pulled out of it I had me a real devine experiance when i was in coma for a month
well ive been taking adderall foralmost a year yesterday i went to walgreens the place i spend 3to4 hundred at monthly I got my pills and went home { they were pink} Me being a trusting person I call them Insead of getting on line they assured me they were the same
big mistake i took one and i just layed there
and as my scipt said one pill twce a day.
This is realy hard to do but maby some one will undersand
I was on the floor shaking all night long It was horrable and I had a wnbalievable headach and I never get head achs 2 days now and im still not over it I didnt think i was going to make it through the night
I musterd up th srengh to go to wallgreens
thismorning I almost couldnt do it But i did
the pharasist said sorryabout thatso i layed them on the counter and started to leave he said they cant take back . i said then throught them away. if the keep selling those things thay will be looking at finacua catastophy

  rudy wrote @

Brad,
I also get my rx from wallgreens. Last week I got the PINK ones too. Also had jitters, etc. Took them back and was told they were the “same.” They didn’t tell me that was all they would be carrying. If so, I will also be changing pharmacies, if I can find them elsewhere…..

  kim wrote @

I just went to 3 pharmacies and finally found a cvs that had the oval orange pills, 30mg. I’ve filled my prescription for 20mg once before at my universitys pharmacy and they were pink. I also could not study on them and also raided the pantry non stop! So these Barr ones are better? My psyc gave me two separate months worth of 30 mg scripts bc I was out of state for several weeks over the holidays ( he post dated one of course) I still have some left from Januarys fill, shire BRAND 30s. Even breaking them up they still are too strong and make my heart race. I’d rather fill this script with generic and when I go back to see him again I’m going to go back to 20mg , brand, as they are like no others!

  Brad L. wrote @

In response to Tommy’s post…
What you are describing sounds like it could possibly, but rather unlikely, be an underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (Hyperthyroidism) thyroid gland. Supposedly this is to be tested through a simple blood test before prescribing adderall (including generics) to a patient, despite the fact that I have heard of very few cases of a doctor actually doing so. I don’t want to scare you, because it is quite uncommon, but the upping of your dose and perhaps how the specific generic affects you could have caused this reaction. But, I definitely think it would be a good idea to take a look at this link in regards to symptoms and causes. Also, it may be a good idea to make sure that if you are taking any other medications currently, or even herbal pills that may affect the usefulness or increase the negative side effects of amphetamines.
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/overactive_thyroid.html

In response to Kim’s post…
I personally have never had Shire (Actual Adderall), but I would definitely say between the two big generics, Barr is much more effective for me personally and has much fewer side effects. I actually, have tried Adderall XR, and I thought the quality was slightly better, but with my schedule I have to pick and choose when I need the pill and when I don’t. But, honestly if the pink ones are working for you, than perhaps you should stick with those, I hope everything works out.

-Brad L.

  Jess wrote @

Responding to Brad, regaurding Tommy’s post. amphetamines of any kind wont interfere with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). If anything, it can help it, because the symptoms of a underactive thyroid are fatigue, weight gain, decreased concentration, basically you feel crapy all the time. It effects hyperthyroidism, which can make you loose weight, rapid heart rate, loss of appetite, and insomnia. I don’t think I need to explain why it wouldn’t be a good idea to toss amphetamines into the mix there. Anyway, I too just received the corepharma generics, only though. I’m not really sure what I think of it yet. But I’ve been looking into it, and it seems like the people who have been taking one kind, then switch to the other, don’t like it, no matter which brand came first. Maybe it has something to do with the different fillers, which can cause them to absorb at different rates, or maybe a person’s body just gets accustomed to one or the other. Who knows it could just be a tolerance issue. I’ll come back and give my opinion once I’ve tried these for a few days.

  Seth wrote @

I’ve been on D-Amphetamine for almost 6 months now, and I recently just got my prescription refilled at Wal-greens and just noticed that I had the pink pills this time. There is a difference. I found this site because I thought these things were taking forever to kick in. I can definitely note usual side effects such as the muscles in my legs are somewhat “stiff” as usual, but I don’t feel the “focus” as mentioned above, or the “organized” state of mind that I do on the orange ones. These really suck. I don’t know how I’m going to make it for a whole month through demanding exams and mountains of homework on these crappy placebos.

  moe smiley wrote @

please please PLEASE somebody how I can get some adderall online

  MrMan wrote @

I stumbled upon this site after researching the issue I have had with this new generic brand. I have been taking the Barr brand quick release 40mg a day for the last year and it has been great. Feb 16, 2008 I picked up my refill at Walgreens and noticed a different look to the tablets, the brand code is COREPHARMA.

When I took my first dose I noticed that they tasted much different. The first two days I took them I felt a very strong reaction, a high similar to my first-ever prescription. On the third day (Monday) I felt so warn out that I called in sick from work and took a day off from drugs. I started again on Tuesday and experienced a totally opposite affect; anxiety, mild depression and INCREASED distractibility. I was at work until 11pm before I got enough done to call it a day. I figured I may just have a head cold coming on or something else that could make me groggy. Today was the same story. It wasn’t until I felt the meds kick in that I became unmotivated and pretty much didn’t get anything done today. I am 100% sure it is the change in manufacture. After speaking to a Walgreens pharmacist I was told that people do notice differences in different brands but he can’t do anything unless I get a new prescription.

It is worth mentioning that on a few internet forums people had reported that upon switching to the Barr brand from another, they found Barr to be “weak.” Right now I’m wondering if these symptoms are the result of overdose. Before I give up I’m going to cut my dose back tomorrow.

All the best!

  bec wrote @

I just got the pink adderalls, and i hate them! is there anyway to return them and get brand name even if I already received my prescription

  M. Frederick Voorhees wrote @

Hi Bec-

Not sure if they’ll let you return them, but it can’t hurt to ask. Maybe tell the pharmacist or your doctor that they give you chest pains.

Next time, be sure to ask the pharmacist beforehand if they carry the orange brand. I believe Walgreen’s has switched to pink, nationwide. CVS still carries orange.

  C wrote @

I can’t believe that everyone is writing exactly what I was thinking. I’ve taken the orange generic pills for years and they are awesome. I can focus and accomplish so much. I have a decreased appetite and drink tons of water–which I consider a plus. This week I was given pink pills at Walgreens. They are terrible! I very anxious and extremely depressed. I have been crying all week and feeling horrible. I had none of the regular appetite suppression side effects either. Walgreens is refusing to refund the $30 I paid and won’t take the prescription back.

[...] wrote of my suspicions regarding the generic brands of Adderall. It was, and is, my contention that something is profoundly different about the new (generic) pink Adderall, when compared to the brand name orange variety (at 20 [...]

  natalie wrote @

i have been taking the generic version of the 30 mg IR adderall (D-Amphetamine salt combo 30mg tabs) for a year now and have always gotten the orange sweet tasting ones (mfr:Barr Labs)..they have always been consistent and startd to work within 15 minutes and worked GREAT for me! i normally always filled at walgreens but sometimes target as they were a bit cheaper as well. (now walgreens offers this presciption coverage ins. for only $20.00 for one year…and now my generics are $15 to $30 cheaper each time i fill…so it paid for itself the first time i filled and i have many scripts!!!) that being said….i just filled the other day and i got these PINK ones…30mg….mfg COREPHARMA, and so far…THEY SUCK big time. im pretty pissed off…but plan to not only to go raise a fuss to walgreens “higher-ups” in the pharmacy…go back to my doctor so he can re-write me a px for this month (he already post-dated one for the next month) so i can go fill once again for this month…BUT SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN WALGREENS. TARGET most likely as they have always had the orange by BARR. Plus the pharmasist is really honest and cool there and straight up told me (with some other px’s i take) like xanax for example…walgreens 2mg generic alprazolam are always yellow and mfg: PurePac. whereas Target has the white 2mg bars and the mfg: is Sandoz which the older honest gentelman who was very open and honest and upfront about the different manufactures and such…that Sandoz..the white ones from target are much better. I agree because i have 120 of each…and can fill wherever, but because of the px pan i got thru walreens would save me even more…i continued to fill there (i am “cash pay” w/ no ins coverage at this time).
so i really think the pink ones (and i have the 30’smgs…are junk and the orange are 100% better! and get this: THE PINK ONES ARE MORE EXPENSIVE!!!!!! SO DEFINETELY….PRIOR TO DROPPING OFF YOUR’E PX….SPECIFY WHICH MFR YOU WANT/PREFER AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE IT IN STOCK….IF THEY DON’T…TAKE YOU’RE PX ELSEWHERE!!!!! I THK ITS COMEPLETE BS….AND AM CONVINCED THE PINK ONES MIGHT JUST BE WATER PILLS…THATS HOW INEFFECTIVE THEY ARE…ITS A JOKE. WE SHOULD “ALL” RAISE HELL AT WALGREENS AND THREATEN TO SWITCH PHARMACIES….I WILL NOT FILL THERE…I RATHER PAY A BIT MORE AND GET SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY WORKS & IS EFFECTIVE.
GOOD LUCK!!! : )

  Joel wrote @

I got my first fill of Adderall 20mg generic at Rite-Aid, and they were the pink oval ones. They were fine. This time, I went to Walgreen’s and they gave me the Pink ones. I can’t even tell I’ve taken anything. Called the Walgreen’s pharmacist and demanded they take them back and call the remaining 29 into Rite-Aid, but she said by law she couldn’t do that. I agree about the law, but my doc won’t write another prescription, as I understand that would be against the law for him to do. So I’m stuck with my ADD symptoms for 29 more days. F*ck Walgreens.

  Lori wrote @

I totally agree about the pink pills. They are AWFUL! It sounds to me I got the worst side effects of anyone here. As soon as I took it and it started to kick in, I have VERY BAD panic attacks. Earlier in the day I had taken one of the orange ones, but all I had left were pink because my pharmacist threw those in for some odd reason (I think he said to keep the price down?) Well, I was still pretty focused from the orange pill, but when this one kicked in I completely lost focus. WOW What a difference and how the hell can they sell this garbage knowing it does not help ADD at all? After my focus broke, I started having the panic attacks. I almost went to the emergency room. I will definately be telling my pharmacist NOT to give me the pink ones because they don’t work and the side effects are really bad.

  M. Frederick Voorhees wrote @

Hi Lori-
Make sure you go to the grocery store, or to CVS, because Walgreen’s ONLY carries the pink CorePharma pills.

  Jen wrote @

I have been taking the pink generic Adderall (round) Ranbaxy brand pills for about two years until a few weeks ago, I received my script from express scripts and it was filled with the orange (oval) Barr brand pills. I was immediately upset because I have had them before and knew I didn’t like them. To me the orange are weaker. After I take it I keep waiting for it to kick in and it never really does unless I take a extra half but then I get all the side effects- irritability ,tension, anxiety. I guess I’m the odd ball because I definitely prefer pink (round) Now if I could only find them….

  Lori wrote @

Oh, I actually got those from Kmart and I did not go back there. I think the reason he gave me 12 of the pink ones out of a 60 pill prescription was because they were out of Barr (the orange ones.) I got my new script today and called Walmart to make sure they use Barr and they do. :) I finally got my Adderall back. Ya, I would NEVER go to Walgreens after hearing that they only use Corepharma. I won’t buy them from CVS because the script is $80 there. I don’t have insurance , so I call around to find the cheapest prices and Walmart and Costco sell Barr for $27.50 for 60 20 mg bottle. Walmart matched Costco’s price and I went there since Costco was out of stock.
I’m just lucky on that last script that only 12 of them were the pink kind . I would be so pissed if my whole script was those. I actually found out about these bad pills on BlueLight message boards. So, I knew beforehand they were different, but figured I would try them anyway since that was all I had left. WOW. They are total garbage.

  Meg wrote @

I have a questionn not relating to this subject but I would love if someone could write back if they have had the same side effects on Adderall as I have. Let me start off by saying I have only been taking this for 2 months and I started off with 10mg a day Adderall XR pill- then my doctor switched me to 20mg Adderall. I filled it at Walgreens and everything seemed great until… MY HAIR STARTED FALLING OUT!! It has to be the adderall since hair loss does not run in my family, and nothing else has changed in my life including my diet. I have now stopped taking the meds because I would rather be all over the place and unfocused with my long locks then focused and bald. I was just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem and what did you do? I was thinking that it could be the generic drug and maybe switching pharmacies would help? Ugh I’m desperate! Thanks guys!

  cait wrote @

I have been on concerta for years now and before that i was on adderall for a few years. then wellbutrin and stattera? they sucked. I personally find concerta to offer motivation while adderall forces it. being at college, its kinda easy to see which one i want. but ive been getting chest pains, i was wondering though if i should tell my doctor that id like to switch and if i tell them about the chest pains, im afraid theyll take me off everything altogether, i guess what im asking is either i should suggest the switch and cross my fingers. or should I tell him i would like to switch back to adderall and inform him of my chest pains and sees where it goes from there. sorry if this is a little off the subject. but if i do get those pink adderall rather the orange ill give em hell from all of us.

  Matt wrote @

I know what you mean about the pink generic Adderall, I got a bottle of those nasty things (30 mg) once and took my initial daily dose which was 2 of them and I had this important meeting to go to and I went to sleep. I woke up and took my second dose which was 30 mg and I was sweating and had diarrhea. Well my first stop was to the pharmacy, and they said “Sorry, you’ll have to get another script from the doctor” and I did and then I went somewhere and got the Barr ones. The orange ones from Eon are okay and the Mallinkcrodt brand white ones kick in stronger and last about 2 hours.

  Sourgirl wrote @

I can’t believe that for another month I have to endure substandard Adderall!!! I had my prescription filled last month at one pharmacy and they gave me Eon Adderall. I went to another one this month (after several in town didn’t have ANY Adderall), and was given this CorePharma Adderall!!!! Just when I was getting used to the Barr Adderall, which I found to be awful in comparison to the Shire ones, all my pharmacies are switching companies again. It seems every time I start to get on some medication that actually WORKS, they force me to start taking Generics that DON’T work! What are you supposed to do? Live with the ADD and take nothing???? I am being forced to pay good money for medication that makes me LESS focused??? WTF????

That was my rant for the day :( Another month without proper meds for me….

  Brenda wrote @

After having been on both the pink (corepharma) and the orange (barr) and reading all these posts..I’ve come to a conclusion which may be helpful.

I have conducted an experiment, of sorts.

My conclusions, which I’ll give first are:

1. The pink and orange pills can both be effective, and have different positives and negatives. You need to find out which is best for you, then STICK with it.

2. *****IMPORTANT***** Whichever pill you are on for an extended period of time (pink OR orange), an abrupt switch to othe other pill is NOT a good thing.

Most people are on the orange, and then switch to the pink and have bad reactions, or find the orange doesn’t work, or both.

BUT, for those few who are on the pink, then switch to orange, many of those don’t like the orange.

My guess would be that the different forms of generic adderall stiumllate/suppress the same portions/chemicals in the brain, but not in equal ways. (In other words..some chemicals may only be mildly suppressed with one type of adderall, and one may be extrememly suppressed with another type.)

SO..when you abruptly change to a different brand, you can, in effect, experience withdrawel from the first and in some cases the way the new medication interacts with your altered brain chemistry (from taking the first), causes more harm than good.

I say this because I have had good results on BOTH types of medications. One may have a smoother comedown (orange), one may give more motivation (pink), but both types worked on me. HOWEVER after having experienced the horrors of abrubt change, I made SURE to give my body a 2 week break before switching brands…to get my brain back to it’s baseline… state. (Yes, this meant 3-4 days of flat in bed, followed by my normal attention deficit state).

I was trying to find out which brand worked the best, and for me, it’s the pink.

I ALSO had experienced abrupt change, orange to pink or pink to orange….and in either case, the one I switched to didn’t seem to work as well as the one I’d been on for awhile…and the orange to pink was extrememly unpleasant…but when I did the same switch with the 2 week break…..NO bad side effects (except already mentioned withdrawel).

Notice that ALOT of people who switch orange to pink describe the same symptoms you get when you go OFF (extreme fatigue, etc).

My suggestion if you are trying to find out which works best, is to try the “break” method above. Don’t automatically assume the one you switch to is “bad”…it may just be you need to start from “baseline” to really see how it works for you.

Best of luck to all.

  M. Frederick Voorhees wrote @

Wish I had the time to go without Adderall for two weeks. The last time I took an extended break from it (for 3 weeks in the summer of 2004), I felt completely cleansed and rejuvenated.

Now, even a single day without it does wonders for me.

Very insightful points Brenda. I’ve been too hard on the CorePharma brand, when the real problem, as I now see it, is the industry as a system. If only they’d be honest about the fact that the drugs are different, and give us a choice, rather than making these corporate “exclusive rights” deals, and telling the people the drugs are identical.

I have several half-written articles about this that I REALLY need to post one of these days.

  AverageJoe wrote @

She does have some good points about being objective, however Brenda’s *IMPRTANT* comment …

“Whichever pill you are on for an extended period of time (pink OR orange), an abrupt switch to othe other pill is NOT a good thing” …

Is only relevant for the Orange pill due to the dates that each product was brought to market.

How many people have switched from the Pink to the Orange after having been on the Pink for an extended period of time?

  Jill wrote @

I have been on the pink pill for eight months now, but about a week ago my perscription has been filled with the orange.

I feel less productive and I feel as though i am always hungry now. Im actually really upset because i have exams next week and i am stuck witht his stupid orange pill that i feel is not helping me one bit, not motivating me, and not allowing me to get focused! Yes, the pink made me feel more jittery and anxious than i do with this orange one.. but at least i could get something accomplished on that one! now im screwed… great. Any Tips >> ??

-Jill

  M. Frederick Voorhees wrote @

I see your point, Average Joe.

Unlike the Core Pharma (pink) Adderall, released only recently, Barr Lab’s generic (orange) pills have been on shelves for roughly a decade. Patients switching from one brand to the other more likely took the orange first. Many of them (myself included) assumed that because the Pinks felt different, they were inferior. That still may be–I took the Core Pharma pinks for over a year and never got to where I actually preferred them over the orange pills. But Brenda’s suggestion makes sense as well: perhaps these perceived differences have more to do with our bodies’ learned familiarity/addiction to whichever drug we took first, and not with any inherent superiority of one drug vis-a-vis the other.

  Charese wrote @

I have been on immediate release adderall for over 9 years now! 30mg 2 times a day.
I have never had brand name because, of course… no pharmacy has them in stock, and I can’t wait for the 5-7 day delivery period! And the pharmacies know this…we need our meds the day we get out scripts!
I get my meds from walmart…peach colored and oval shaped 30mg.
After being on on the same meds for so long, trust me…we all can tell when something is different! I felt that the pills were no longer working as well as they use to…and they didn’t last as long. I asked the pharmacist if they had changed companies in the last couple of months…she said no, but we just got a new batch number in. I had pills from each of the 2 batches…the new one was different…not as effective! I began to think that perhaps they didn’t contain all 30mg of the drug…it’s happened before with many other meds. Pharmacies get generic drugs cheaper, and the drugs are not full strength.
I want to have a lab test these pills and see if they are really 30mg. No one in my area does this, the only drug testing around here is what’s already in your system! ha!
Today I thought that I should try a different pharmacy…a different generic brand…since no one had brand name in stock, I went to Walgreen’s…and guess what I got>>>>PINK COREPHARMA!!!!! I have not tried them yet…but from the blogs on here…I just can’t wait to see what happens from here! I’ll let you know how it goes!

  b wrote @

I too today went yesterday to a Walgreen’s a and had my prexription filled for the first time with Corepharma. As if my prescribed dose wasnt high enough already at 100mg a day, these Corepharmas are SO much weaker than the Barr ive probably taken 200mg at least today with almost no effect on my ADD at ALL. I just keep eating and having panic attacks thinking about it not working. My jaw freakin hurts. I’ve been on ADD meds for the better part of my 27 year life, and I feel duped because I’ve never seen the Corepharmas before but they really are DRASTICALLY different from the Shire or Barr. From now on, I plan to ask any new pharmacy where I fill my prescription for the first time; what kind they carry, I’d rather have spent more money and had the other kind that I am used to at this point. I plan to call Walgreen’s and complain.

  AM wrote @

I was just diagnosed with ADD a couple weeks ago and was started on a low dose of 10mg. I filled my prescription at Walgreens and my pills were BLUE. Has anyone had experience with blue round pills before?

  smgoga wrote @

YES! Have taken Adderall XR for 1 year, and last week refilled at Walgreens and got the round blue pills (generic) – they are pointless! My jaw hurts from clenching my teeth, I have an almost constant headache, and I am more jittery and speedy……… um, exactly what I am being treated for!! I am calling my Doctor Monday, getting a new script, paying the money and taking my ass to Walmart, apparetly, thats where it’s at. Good Luck! The pills are awful.

  b wrote @

actually, i have had the blue ones, they were 10mg… the ones that i had werent bad like the corepharmas…. but this was a while ago; and since it seems like were in the day and age of crappy generic add medication, im not sure who makes the blue ones anymore, or how many companies for that matter. now, in terms of anyone as pissed as me about this corepharma junk, i think we should all give walgreens customer service at the main walgreens office & also our local walgreens a call and demand they pull this product. if i had any idea this existed before today, i would have made sure i wasnt getting it. the difference between barr generic and corepharma is night and day. im lucky that i have another prescription i can fill in another couple days; but had i only this corepharma junk for a whole month i really dont know what i would do, and i feel sorry for those of you who are reading this who have to deal with that for a month. the only thing i got out of this new generic was a) my jaw cracked thank god because the pressure was giving me a headache b) my lips are like peeling off and they taste like plastic. i have no idea how weve gotten to the point where a large pharmacy like walgreens is selling medication that doesnt work; but i do know that if we all stop filling there; they will definately notice…. even the generics are costly.

  smgoga wrote @

Agreed. The Blue ones you are referring to, are also manufactured by CORE Pharmacies – clearly, the Pharmaceutical company itself is sub par.

  b wrote @

may i also just add that some people actually like the corepharma – i would assume that anyone who likes the corepharma; likes it because the effects of the medication are noticeably weaker than the peach Barr generics. The only problem is that if you have severe ADD such as I do, the effect of the medication that has been eliminated mostly from the CorePharma really is the #1 reason that the Adderall actually works for me in the first place. This is really scary to me because, i’ve literally tried every ADD medication on the market by now, and the Adderall is the ONLY medication so far that doesn’t give me bad mood swings and other negative personality issues.

  tiffany wrote @

I started taking adderall xr ( orange pills) in 2002. I take them for a sleeping disorder. I had to which doctors because of my insurance.I see in dec. 2007. He takes me off the adderall xr 20mg x2 a day. That I was happy with, because I would take a nap never day two to three hours long. So he switch me to the adderall 20mg( pink pill) x3 times a day. I was ok for the first 2 weeks. Then I started feeling stress and edgey. Then at about 4 to 6 weeks I started having bad mood swings. I would be ok a minute and in the next I could be crying, angry,or very mad for no reason. At 7 weeks I started hearing and seeing things. You know like some one whispering in the other room,or the phone ringing and it didn’ t, sounds off doors opening and closeing, and seeing shadows out of the corner of my eye.I aslo became very paranoid. I want back to doctor office around the 8 or9 weeks. I asked him if the new adderall was do this. Because I feel like I’ m going crazy. He told me no the medicine would it cause that. But that the only thing that different. I decided that I’ m going back to my old doctor. Because I’m on week 14 and everything has got worse. I spend the day tell the ones I love sorry for the way I’m acting. Also I get very confuse. And my memory is very bad.There days I think I have early oldtimers or someting. I go back to the doctor on 4/28/08. hope this helps.

  b wrote @

well i wanted to follow up; i went back to the walgreens where i purchased the corepharma and presented them with the other half of my monthly prescription; and explained to the pharmacist that i was filling this one so closely to the other one due to the unacceptable quality of the corepharma. she informed me that she has received several complaints regarding the same medication; and was going to inform whomever about the complaints. they then happily filled my other scrip for genuine Adderall, to the tune of 275$ vs the $75 i paid for the corepharma. If you get the corepharma brand by accident, and are unhappy with it, make sure that you inform your pharmacist about it because customer dissatisfaction about this issue is actually being noticed due to the number of complaints and yours makes a difference. On a side note, this is the first time ive filled with genuine Adderall and im finding that it is actually not as strong as the Barr generic either. Anyone else notice this? Or maybe I am just waiting for the other medication to exit my system. Either way, I am going back to my regular pharmacist from now on, who charges a fair amount (half the genuine Adderalls cost), for the Barr and does so with a smile and friendly customer service to boot. Ive learned my lesson!

  John wrote @

Just wanted to add my 2cents….

I’ve been taking either adderall or dexidriene for what…at least 5 years now. So last week my doc. switches me back over to adderall as the pharmacy (Wallgreens) was evidently concerned about me getting 120 10mg Dexedrine tablets every month..So he switched me back to 60 20mg adderall (same dosage, less # of pills).

So anyway I asked for the generic @ walgreens and then the person at the counter then asked the pharmacist if they had the generic in stock….His response? “Uh…we have something similar”.That should have been a big red flag. But I didn’t inquire any further b/c I’ve been on generic AD’s before, and figured he was just talking about BARR’s version…WRONG!!

Well I got the pink corepharma CRAP…About 3 days later im feeling sick, weak, disoriented and downright depressed….THE POLAR OPPOSITE OF THE WAY I FEEL ON ADDERALL “What in the hell is this stuff?” I wondered. Finally I began to do some research and found like 100’s of complaints about this SHIT! Sorry for my language but THIS IS NOT ADDERALL!! NOT EVEN CLOSE! How on gods earth is corepharma/Wallgreens able to market this CRAP as Adderall!!???? Words cannot desrcibe how pissed I am right now….Come Monday morning im going straight to the pharmacy manager then straight back to my doc…All hell is going to break loose if I can’t get another prescription (TO BE FILLED @ CVS W/BARR) b/c simply put MY BODY CAN’T HANDLE THIS POISON!!

If any lawyers happen to come across this please investigate corepharma’s “Pink Generic Adderall”….Someone is going to make millions on a class action lawsuit against corepharma beacuse THIS IS NOT ADDERALL!

  Lucy wrote @

Walgreens switched me to the pink pills last January. I’ve given them enough of a chance. I noticed immediately that they didn’t work nearly as well as the orange and they made me very jittery. But a couple of weeks after I started taking them, I developed some strange symptoms. Because I have many neurological disorders, I thought this was something new. And because I didn’t get them immediately when I started taking the new pink pills, it didn’t occur to me that they would be responsible.

The symptoms are hard to explain. They’re spasms throughout my abdomen and in my back and ribs. They’re like involuntary muscle contractions and they cause cramps and nausea. I find myself tightening my abdominal muscles so that I don’t feel the contractions as much.

I think I’ve given the pink pills enough of a chance.

  Lucy wrote @

Why don’t they believe that a medication causes symptoms that keep getting worse as the weeks go on? I was fine for the first two weeks, then the symptoms started and they’ve just gotten worse and worse. It’s been three months and I can’t stand this.

I notified Walgreens and let them know about the bad pink pills.

  Nathan wrote @

When walgreens switched their genaric adderall from barr to corepharma i was very unpleased. I noticed a dramatic difference between the two. The worst diffence came with the constant headaches i had. I couldn’t do anything about it, i drink a lot of water each day and it still doesn’t effect my situation. I called walgreens to find out information on this new pill and they said there was absolutely no difference between the generic brands. I wasn’t ready to give up on the matter so i scheduled n appointment with my doctor to discuss the issue. After explaining everything he said “that’s absolute bullshit. The different brands are not all the same.” He then gave me another prescription to find a different pharmacy with the brand name barr. I went to targets pharmacy and have been going there every month.

[...] that I much prefer the generic orange Adderall (Barr Laboratories, inscribed ‘b 973’) to the generic pink Adderall (CorePharma LLC, inscribed ‘cor [...]

  Walgreens Boycott « Love A.D.D.erall wrote @

[...] aren’t noticing them. I waited two years, because I thought I was imagining things. Even then, I had to write about it in my blog and discover others felt the same way before I felt confident enough to talk to a pharmacist about [...]

  Jeb wrote @

This is in response to Brad who has found a significant difference in the Brand Adderall vs the Barr generic. I basically have had the same experience being that the Barr generic just does not work except that it’s great for weight loss and if you maybe like to stay up at night doing nothing. I also had the same response from the pharmacy that I had my pres. filled. First one was at Walgreens, my second (and current pres) was at CVS. The generic that was filled at Walgreens worked pretty decent and that was D-amphetamine. The one at CVS was Barr Amphetamine salts and this was where I noticed a completely different feel. There was no change. It actually made me feel more depressed and not much focus.

Anyway, I plan on asking specifically from now on for the Brand when I go to refill. I haven’t yet tried the Brand yet but from what I’ve read and heard, it’s what works best. So wish me luck.

Oh and I’m gonna end this on a sour note for now because I truly feel robbed. Not only are we suffering from a serious mental disorder but these drug companies are basically adding insult to injury when we have to waste our precious time trying to figure out what works best for us be it generic vs brand not to mention thinking that we are the insane ones. It doesn’t help my mental state that’s for sure. I really wish something would happen. Ban the Barr.

  Jill wrote @

I’ve been on Adderall XR 10’s for a couple months and I wanted to get away from XR and see what the regular kind was like and I got CorePharma from Walgreens because NO ONE has regular brand adderall. I haven’t been able to tell yet(just took it this morning and decided to research it and found this!), but if it doesn’t work I’m going to be very upset! I don’t know whether I should go back to XR or fill my next script at CVS….

  jondbca wrote @

Does anybody know how much Target or CVS charges for the generic BARR adderall? My plan switched to CorePharma – and for sustaining meds they only allow us to go through them, but I’m willing to go it alone since the corepharma has been pretty useless…

Thanks

[...] You take my skills, mix in a knack for finding good niches, as well as a severe case of A.D.D., and you get someone who spends more time on GoDaddy than Danica Patrick. I am there registering [...]

  Susan Cadis wrote @

Wow, how did I miss this post? I too have had all the same troubles I just finished reading about. I have felt like some kind of drug hound in my attempts to find the “right adderall” when getting my monthly Rx filled. I can tell you 1st hand the going rate at all my local Pharmacy’s for the orange, adderall
My Rx is for 120 20mg, costs to follow:
Walgreen’s 113.58
CVS 136.00
Costco 45.48
Target 101.00
Walmart 110.45

This is the price I pay for feeling like shit if I fill my Rx with the PINK ones. So I have to not only Pharmacy shop, but try and price shop. My insurance won’t pay for anything but Corepharma generic.
Personally, I’m waiting for the class action suit to be started.

  JenniferBibler wrote @

I am on Medicaid for a virtual nightmare of hormonal problems and thyroid, & adrenal diseases. We are even starting to look for cancer at this point. I have taken Adderall varying from 10mg 2x’s a day on up to 20mg 3x’s a day just depending on how bad my ADD, Severe Chronic Fatigue from Adrenal Insufficiency is as I am the only one who takes care of myself. I tend to have to lower my dose when going through rheumatory/pain episodes as the stimulants tend to make my pain worse. I had been filling my Adderall at Martins Pharmacy and at Target because I like to do my grocery shopping there. Just yesterday I filled my Adderall at Walgreens for the first time in many months and I too got these bright pink colored CorePharma pills, COR 135’s. I absolutely had no idea what to make of them being I had never seen AD look that way b4. My first reaction was holy crap they filled the wrong medication! I’ve had to research just to find out that now Walgreens is carrying this grossly insuffucient new generic form of Adderall. I have had sooo many symptoms on it compared to the Barr generic tablets I’ve been taking for months. Unknown meds scare me as on of my other meds made me toxic and damaged my liver and kidneys. I no longer have the stamina or strength without the help of sooo many medications. I went in crying to the Walgreens because I had no idea what these pills even were?? Since I started them I began having palpatations, brain fog, seeing stars, nautia, and develooped a severe urinary track infection with bleeding. What scared me the most is that these tablets had a pretty bitter and terrible taste compared to the sweeter taste of reg Adderall or the Barr generic. I talked to the Walgreen pharmacist who showed and calmed me that the fill wasn’t a mistake, but with the symptoms I’m having on them and the fact that I was stable on the other medications, he hesitantly told me to gather my meds and bring them back in tomorrow althought they , the Walgreens here, no longer carries anything but CorePharma so I don’t know how this is going to go. I’m only 31 years old and I’m already a dying woman so I can only pray that they help do the right thing by me and get me back on the medication I truely need to be on, not one thats going to make me sicker than I already am. I TOTALLY AGREE things are not quite right with these PINK tablets, I just don’t think they have them right yet, and urge caution to each and every one of you in taking them. I’ d be more than happy to see this toxic thrown together generic ampphetamine mixture pulled off the market for good. Best wishes to you all and please be very careful with this new medication! God Bless, Jennifer

  JenniferBibler wrote @

Dear Susan …..I feel so bad your medications are so outrageously overmarked, trust me I know how that goes. I was wondering if you have insurance? Even if you do, have you happened to heard of “Your Rx Card Prescription Card”?(UnaRXCard) It is NOT insurance and IS FREE and can coinside with insurance as all it does is eliminate that lovely drug companies rediculuos mark up off whatever your insurance does not cover/deductible. It also will help pay for any medications your insurance will not cover. You fill out very basic info there, name , email make a password, then you enter your city and zip code, it will pull up tons of participating pharmacies. Then you click on medication pricing, enter you meds, quantity, and zip and it actually gives you in order which pharmacies are the cheapest and closet to you. Make sure to go to drug pricing (1st )as before you print your card out (you just type your first & last and email ) you want to make sure the savings are worth it for you.) I tried your amount of Adderall in my area except I went with 30mg {90} (pain to cut but always saves $) and the price came down below $35 dollars, at 120 it was around $42 but as I said prices may be much different in your area. I checked all this with the straight amphetamine salts and not the dextro mix (althought the mix was even cheaper.) But just food for thought and something for you or anyone else who didn’t know that was available to check out if interested. It took me 2 years after of being sick before they suspected cancer to get Medicare and without the UnaRxCard I wouldn’t have made it. Its IS betteron some drugs that it seems to be on adderall. I know my pain meds were over $160 a month and went down to $42. So I hope maybe you can find some help there, its free so it can’t hurt to try. Best of Luck. Jennifer

  Kimberly in Lexington,SC wrote @

Walmart sells the Ornage Bars which i must say are my best working out of the Adderall… I got my RX filled at Walgeens last night, and opened the bottle this a.m. and realized the differecne…i was hesitant to take them thinking that the pharmacy must have messed up on filling my Prescription… But then i thought that couldn’t be, they SHOULD know what they are doing, in referrence to the Legal Actions that one may take upon a Pharmacy for messing up and giving someone the wrong thing… I took the medicine around 9:30 this morning and it is now 10:15 and i can tell no difference… I will definately not use Walgreens Pharmacy for ANYTHING in the future… from now on i will patiently wait until Wal-Mart opens the next day…. Kimberly J. in Lexington, SC

  Robert wrote @

I have been taking adderall for 3 years now and i only take them to help me study in college. I have always gotten the oval blue pills, which i am guessing is the “real” thing. This time i got the round light blue corepharma pills that have COR 132 and a cross on the sides and they are terrible! They do not keep me near as focused as the other kind. Not sure why mine are light blue and everyone else’s are pink but anyways. I called my sister who is a PA and prescribed it for me, and she said that unless your doctor specifically asks for the generic adderall, then they are legally required to give you the “real” thing. if they do not have it, then they are supposed to inform you of the situation. I went to walgreens to get mine filled and i am going back in the morning to try fix the problem. So, everyone with this problem needs to go to the pharmacy and tell them that your doctor prescribed the real thing and not the generic. hope this helps.

  Laurie wrote @

Just want to put this info out there. Brand Adderall is a Racemic amphetamine sulfate and the other generic is Dextroamphetamine or amphetamine salts combo. The latter of which has a stronger appetite suppressive action and increase of CNS stimulation. The true Adderall comes in orange and blue depending upon the dosage and is manufactured by Barr and works much better than all the generics and side effects are not as severe. Barr makes a generic of their own product because it is cheaper to make and most ins co want to get cheaper product. The orange pills that most of you like look almost exactly like the brand because it’s the same manufacturer. Eon labs and Sandos also make Orange tabs much like Barr. Core uses D-Amph and the others use the combo they work differently because they are different. The price is dramatically different even for same product. #90 30mg Barr Generic CVS:103.00 Walmart 71.84 Meijer 98.30 Sams club 66.84 Cosco 57.99 and buying Brand Adderall is 130.00 up to 258.49. Some of the small corner pharms were the cheapest. The brand Adderall can cause an elevation in thyroid hormones and D-Amph can cause an increase in circulating corticosteroids in the evening so those of you out there, make sure you know what you are taking, and, how it will affect other medications or hormone replacements. These drugs can be life threatening.

  aregirltom wrote @

bag german you me global yes wood

  Matt wrote @

The pink pills are definitely not the same. I prefer the oval orange 30mg pills. Everyone I know hates the pink ones and I started thinking maybe we were all crazy, but now I realize there really is something about them…

  Tyler wrote @

I started out on the pink 20mg generic adderall twice a day and they have been good for me i havent had the jitters or any of that, then i was given the orange kind once and hated them i never felt the effects and couldnt make it through the day. So maybe they have different effects on certain people or maybe your body is just use to the one you took first and mentally you blame it on the color.

  Ashley wrote @

In response to everyone being pissed at walgreens.. I work for walgreens and we have no say over the generics they send us, especially C-II medications. I’m also on adderall, that’s why i’m on this site, but not on the strength you’re referring to. You need to contact COREPHARMA about the problems your experiencing. They are the ones that make the drug. If the pharmacists look at you funny when you say they don’t work the same, it’s probably because most people that want certain brands do so because they sell them. The active ingredient is the same, it’s the fillers that are different. But, different reactions are possible. Instead of bitching about how walgreens carries a new generic brand, contact the manufacturer. And no, we can never take medications back that have already left the store. There’s no way to know how they have been stored or handled once in the patient’s hands.

  M. Frederick Voorhees wrote @

“You need to contact COREPHARMA about the problems your experiencing. They are the ones that make the drug… Instead of bitching about how walgreens carries a new generic brand, contact the manufacturer.”

Whoa, you seem confused about the point of your profession. There’s a reason the billboard in front of your store reads “Walgreens,”and not ‘CorePharma, LLC’ or ‘Barr Laboratories, Inc.’ Pharmacies exist so that so that CorePharma and Barr can excuse themselves from having to interact directly with the public. to serve as buffer zones or liaisons between drug companies and their clients. If pharmacists whose job it is to be knowledgeable are too lazy to dig up the facts, then why should we expect any sort of candor from the corporate and scientific elites whose skills & responsibilities lie outside of the service industry.

“If the pharmacists look at you funny when you say they don’t work the same, it’s probably because most people that want certain brands do so because they sell them.”

If I were a pharmacist, it would be my goal to help people, not be suspicious of them. Customers and patients should feel empowered to express their symptoms without having to deal with this kind of crap from the so-called “professionals.”

If you’re saying pharmacists are in the business of stereotyping, then they at least should learn which version is more often abused. That way they can stereotype with greater precision. Since the pink CorePharma version offers the swifter & more intense high, it’s the more lucrative choice for A.D.D.-fakers seeking to flip their to meds to the black market. On the orange is more gradual and predictable (which legitimate students tend to appreciate). Therefore, customers like us who opt for the recreationally less-fun version are more worthy of being treated like human beings.

  Faith wrote @

Complain about Corepharma Adderall. Make a difference, reveal the truth to the FDA and keep medications that do not work from reaching the market.

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html

I usually use generic Adderall 5 mgs By the Manufacturer Barr http://www.barrproductguide.com/ and http://www.barrlabs.com

However Walgreens decided to use the manufacturer Corepharma http://www.Corepharma.com

I have found that this medication has not worked for my Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) at all since usage. Looking at their history it becomes obvious.

Corepharma established in 1998 with barely any info on its website.

Barr Laboratories was established in 1970 with rich information on its background. I think that Corepharma’s Adderall should be taken off the market if it does not work. If you agree, writing on forums is pointless. Report them to the FDA if you agree that they should no longer be manufacturing medications that do not work.

Here is the FDA’s website all it takes is a phone call.

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html

  Faith wrote @

Another

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/sectiona.cfm

  Adam wrote @

BTW i find all of this extremely helpful and never realized significant differences existed between generics. i have been on the blue BARR 10mg Adderall since being diagnosed with ADHD and they have worked fine for me, but i haven’t tried any other generics. I was just prescribed the blue EON 10mg. Anyone know much about EON and their effectiveness/side effects. I did have a horrible headache after i took the EON and am not sure if that’s common.

Also, any thoughts on Adderall vs Dexadrine? I know Adderall is a combo of 4 amphetamines, and Dex is just the 1, but im curious to get actual feedback from ADAHers on preference, pros/cons, side effects? Thank you.

Im very surprised there isnt more documentation on this subject.

  B_rad wrote @

I have only been on generic adderrall for a few months (30 mg) day. I’ve been getting my generic (Barr Laboratories) at SavOn. The other day I went for a refill and was told my prescription was not available.

With out much awareness of the potentially different compositions in generic quality, I obliviously went to KMart. Immediately I noticed the pills had a different imprint (CorePharma 136). After three days on the pink ‘STUFF’ I am disappointed and will return to my doctor for a new prescription. Immediately, I noticed less potency, and a delayed effect that never really delivers ‘focus’ or benefit. Most troubling were the ‘extreme’ side effects; chest pains, and muscle cramping.

For me there is no comparison — BEWARE of the PINK Core Pharma.

  sicboi420 wrote @

Once a schedule 2 drug leaves the counter it is yours. I would not use Walgreens or any big pharmacy for asprin. I use a small mom and pop pharmacy who will take care of their customers. Walgreen, CVS, WALMART, etc.. sux!!!!!

  sicboi420 wrote @

I also take methadone. NEVER get MallinCRAP methadone. Only Roxane. MallinCRAP makes all sorry generics. About adderall. If you get a brand that sux don’t leave the counter and give it back and tell them to give you your scrip back. They have to. Don’t touch the pills either or they want take em back.That is a federal law. Just open the lid while the “short white coat” (pharmacist) is there and if they are not what you want give em back and get your script and go somewhere else. If they say otherwise call 911.

  awaytobree wrote @

whew, I’m SO glad I found this thread, this whole friggin site! I am also a ADD, no hyper, more like lethargy by design. ANYhoo, I have been on 20mg Barr orange (and sweet tasting when biting in half, i might add) 2 times a day for a year. I got the Pink 20s and didnt think much, ive run the whole antidepressant/anxiety/whathaveyou ride since 17 and Im 35, and im used to being switched up and lazy (or just too lethargic to try) when it comes to errands. But this pink stuff is exactly, exactly like you all are saying. Headaches, and one person said Bad Trips. I never thought of it that way since i use it in place of an antidepressant as well. But truly, I have been so low with this stuff, it gives the basic appetite loss and less dry mouth, for me. But the focus is all over the room, messy, then…no clean that, then mess up this corner, sharpen all your pencils but forget to pay the bills…this stuff is Bad Medicine IMHO and I will write to the company and switch to a mom and pop pharm. Not as convienient, but true, they do take better care, remember your face, and listen. I feel so much better, I thought I might be going up to the ’special’ floor of a hospital soon. Thanks for all the posts.

  john wrote @

I’ve been taking adderal for about 8 years now. in my opinion the pink oval generic pills make you crash harder when it wears off. I prefer the pink round generic over the ovals. the comedown is a lot smoother and less harsh.

  Christine wrote @

i’ve been on adderall and other add meds on and off for a few years now. i’ve tried all sorts of different generic brands, doses, and types of adderall. for the first time, i just got the pink cor 135 pills (20 mg tabs) instead of my normal orange ones (from barr). yesterday i took one of my regular orange ones then a pink one. i didn’t notice it at all and went to sleep a couple hours later. i took two of the pink ones today and didn’t feel anything. i thought i did at first, but i decided it was the 3 cups of coffee. my sister takes tramadol and got some from pharmacore one time. she threw a fit and said they were total b.s. i’m wondering how this company is selling these things? i’m going to take 3 or 4 pink ones tomorrow to test.

  Christine wrote @

(oops i meant corepharma)

  liv wrote @

ah! so relieved.. i thought i was the only one. im rx’d 60mg a day and have been miserable for almost 3 months on these pink bs pills. no focus, no staying on task in classes, headaches, muscles twitch, anxiety, jittery, jaw pain, way more moody, shaky, etc. nastiest effects ive had from any generic! when i took barr 20mgs, i wasnt having the mental fog and noticed lots of improvement with my classes and overall mood was normal again! oh and the pinks were so strange to me bc i never once felt them kick in! thinking it was tolerance issues, ended up doubling my mg and my most mg taken in a day EVERwas at 120: no noticeable effects on my adhd still!! really almost gave up thinking i was immune to the meds or something. oh, and they taste so bitter unlike barr’s. i found it impossible to take the pinks daily. idk if they contribute to muscle twitches, but i have never had that before corepharma. their site looks like a joke and not comprable to the legit manufacturers sites i reviewed. forgive my crappy typing due to my cell phone! anyway avoid these pinks. its definitely a relevent case if this many ppl can relate. id love to hear if anyone has had similar side effects from the pinks as i experienced with them. thanks and good luck to all of u with meds!! from now on, im refilling at walmart!

  Jay wrote @

Same here. I’ve been on 20mg Adderall 2/day for about 6 months now, and just received the pink COr-135 brand for the first time on my last Rx, filled a week ago. I had an experience like a previous poster; the very first time I took the new one, it seemed to hit harder than usual. But after that, they seemed a bit weaker in general, and I’ve been experiencing the jitters and muscle pain.

My advice to everyone here is to go to your doctor with your new bottle, and ask him/her to write you a new script if you destroy your current pills in front of him/her (assuming your Dr is hesitant to write a second script on top of your current one, thinking you may just be trying to “con” him into more).

I’m going to try this with my Dr tomorrow, and ask him if he will re-write me a script if I flush them down the toilet in his presence (something he can note in your case file so that he would presumably be protected from FDA inquiry).

  Me wrote @

I’ve been taking 100mg’s of Adderall for 16 years and the only reason I’m even here was b/c I was wondering if anyone else thought these new ‘pinks’ weren’t as effective as the oval orange Barr. The pinks just plain suck. I’ve actually been doubling my daily dose just to feel anything. I’m extremely irritated at all this whole thing. sunnovabich.

I never really thought there would be such a huge difference between generics. Lesson learned.

  Brittany wrote @

Absolutely agree.
Gave the pink cor’s a whirl for THREE months.
Had to even triple my Rx dosage, and it still wasn’t satisfactory.
Got the oval barr filled this week and I can definitely testify that something’s up with the others.
Not to mention..the pink tasted like SHIT. I don’t like suck on pills or anything, lol, but it’s much more “pleasant” to swallow a sweeter pill rather than a bitter one.
Hope this helps someone or at least is a comfort since we can relate.

  Jay wrote @

Well, I was able to fill my next script for the old Barr peach-colored ones. I just had to call a few different pharmacies and find out which ones had Barr, and not COr (the pink ones).

Turns out that some pharmacies of the SAME CHAIN might have one or the other, or in some cases, BOTH of them in supply. In fact, after calling around and writing down which pharmacies had which brands, I found out that my original pharmacy still had the old Barr ones, just at a different location.

If you live in a decent-sized city, I don’t think anyone would have a problem finding the Barr brand (and you’ll probably find them for the same price). Just call around, ask them to check and make sure they have Barr brand in your dosage. If they tell you there’s no difference or that they “frown” on letting customers choose which brand they get, just stand up for your rights and tell them that the new pink ones (CorPharma) are making you feel worse. You shouldn’t even need to go that far, but some privately-owned shops or snotty clerks might act like that.

Beyond that, spread the word. Tell your doctors, tell your pharmacies, call the FDA and file a complaint, even write to the press. If CorPharma is faced with enough negative pressure, they might be forced to re-evaluate their current generic compound.

  complete mess wrote @

i was supposed to go on that type of medication. i had a severe focusing problem in school. i was never acknowledged to the fact i had this disorder. i finally messed around with adderal with a few pills off the streets. they worked wonders. i can get stuff done, i can focus on conversations, i can operate heavy machinery with more care…but it was too late already..i had become too much of a trouble maker in school because of my condition, to result in getting kicked out. now im making minimum wage…if that… thanks to the school system who has never realized why i am the way i am. and thats why bad things in this country go down. thanks america.

  CBreezy wrote @

I loooove how easy it is to tell which ones of you are on Adderall when commenting. You’ve written a novel’s worth of Adderall induced garbage. lol

I switched too, don’t see a huge difference. Still gets the job done.

  CBreezy wrote @

p.s. – the comment above my previous comment… “complete mess”

“Thanks America”?? Really?

YOU got YOURSELF kicked out of school. Whether it’s your parents fault or your own for being an asshole. It certainly isn’t MY or anyone else’s fault that you’re making minimum wage. I have a degree, soon to be two college degrees, and I can thank MYSELF.
It’s my fault I got a degree and now make $35+/hr. It’s your fault you make minimum wage.

I’m sick of unintelligent people begging for a break. Open a fucking book.

ADD doesn’t make you a trouble maker, being a stupid fucking kid makes you a trouble maker (p.s. – I was suspended more than once and spent many many Friday afternoons in detention back in grade school, and I didn’t grow up to be a loser)

  Kathiekae wrote @

I am prescribed Adderall 20 mg, three times a day and my fiance, mark is presribed 30 mg, three times a day. We had always gotten the oval orange “Barr” brand. Recently, it seems that we can not find these anywhere anymore. Everyone has the “pink” round scored tabs that don’t work. All they did for me was increasy my B/P and pulse rate and make me break out in a rash and itch. Of course I was awake…scratching myself to death, but focused?, only on scratching myself raw! So, bottom line…what can we do, where can we write and more importantly short term, where can I fill our prescriptions with the Barr brand?

  pinkorangeovalround.com wrote @

I too have had the same issue with Orang Oval vs Pink “Pepto Bismol” round. They don’t work!!! Actually, you can tell your pharmacist that she/he is sadly mistaken. Generics are NOT exactly like the real deal or why would they make generic. I researched it because I too was getting the same line of bullshit. Generic meds are only required by the FDA to put the same ingredients in but NOT the same amount. For example, it’s like a street dealer stepping on his junk to trip his money for crap. Pharmacists are no different. I will not take anything but the oval orange anymore. I’ll ask the pharmacy if they have them and if not I leave. Where I live they are tough to find. AND have you noticed that the orange are more expensive than the pink? They are. I’ve complained about this to my Dr several times and he was very cool about it and said he has heard this often. So the next time a pharmacist Dr wanna be tells you it;s in your head tell him not only is he selling shit but he can lie so unconvincingly. By the way, though they wouldn’t take them back I did try and return pepto bismol one time telling them they sold me a placebo, sugar pill… basically expensive shit that doesn’t do a damn thing! One last thing, there is a generic agency out there that sort of works like the FDA. The not so funny thing is when you’re on their website they let it be known they will not tolerate contact from the consumer. This is criminal. Google it and check it out. W.OO (want orange oval)

  Noelle wrote @

I AM SO GLAD PEOPLE ARE STLL PISSED ABOUT THIS…SERIOUSLY!!! Because while this is certainly not my first dance with these RIDICULOUS hot pink sugar pills (i.e. Corepharma/Wallgreens/NOW LONGS DRUGS TOO!) I thought I had escaped this insane frustrating situation months ago. But last night, it caught me again.
I both live and work close to Wallgreens stores, so it was once very easy to get my script filled on my way out/back, of course that all changed when they switched to Corepharma exclusively; now I won’t go in there for anything. Fortunately, Longs (which is almost 30 mins away) has maintained the orange (Barr) 30 mg Adderall, which may not be brand (I wouldn’t know, don’t have an extra $600 to splurge and find out) but 3-4 of those works for me. Also Safeway pharmacy sometimes-usually has it as well, the Eon brand, which is even better, I think.
Now it seems Corepharma and it’s bullshit product have officially wiped out the competition and replaced Barr, Eon or anything orange! In San Francisco, that includes Rite-Aid, Longs, CVS and Safeway… I’m out of options, in a major city for God’s sake! IDK what people in small towns are doing, guess now it’s the same.
Calling Longs pharmacy now; I filled my script last night, and was SO happy to have made it (ten mins before close, they were cool to do it) especially since my Dr. has been out of town for the past 3 wks and i’ve been without Adderall (fun detox, as always). Anyways, was feeling a huge sense of relief to finally be getting back on track-it’s a huge disturbance to my life when I’m off- til I opened the bottle and discovered… Corepharma is taking over the world.
SERIOUSLY THOUGH, IS ANYONE FREAKING OUT OVER THIS/DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT?! IDK how severe or dependent everyone else is, but for me, no Adderall (and these definately qualify as NOTHING, I can’t believe it’s higher than 2%) = nothing gets done, I’m all over the place and can’t do anything about it, so i’ll give up and feel depressed until one of the real companies comes back. I’m only halfway joking, and I don’t have depression (diagnosed) but this will do it.
IF THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING, WHY ISN’T ANYTHING BEING DONE AT ALL?? Guess I’ll see what style of BS Longs throws at me now, I don’t know why I’m even bothering to call, but couldn’t hurt.
-ANY SUGGESTIONS OR INSIDER INFO APPRECIATED… THX

  Jason wrote @

I have to keep this brief because I could go on forever. I have a lot of experience with Adderall. I have been taking 20mg 3 x a day (and at times have switched to 20mg time release 2 times a day) for 10 years. I have known for a while that the every brand of Adderall acts as a completely different drug. I have tried all of them (to my knowledge). You should try the Sandoz (Eon Labs). Most people are happy with this brand of Adderall. You usually have to call around, but some place in your area should have it. For me it’s been a struggle ever since June of 2007 when Barr bought the rights for the brand version of Adderall from Shire. Shire definitely had a secret ingredient that they put in their version and nothing comes close. At this point it’s just a matter of settling with the best version that currently exists. Barr; both brand version and generic version have been sub par for me. Ranbaxy as well. Sandoz has been decent for me, most people love it though.

  Voorhees wrote @

“For me it’s been a struggle ever since June of 2007 when Barr bought the rights for the brand version of Adderall from Shire. Shire definitely had a secret ingredient that they put in their version and nothing comes close.”

Hi Jason-
You’ve alluded to a very interesting point here. If that date of June 2007 is accurate, does that mean all immediate-release Adderall I would have taken prior to that date was brand name? If so, then that settles it for me: the problem has everything to do with Shire and relatively little to do with CorePharma vs. Barr issue. (Maybe CorePharma’s biggest mistake was painting their pills pink in the first place, because that made some of us cognitively associate Barr’s orange generic with the orange stuff we’d taken in the past. I swear I remember a month or two of taking ORANGE CorePharmas with crosses on them though.)

But back to my main point, that Shire’s original, brand-name Adderall IR is long gone now. If Shire somehow skimped on the recipe, then the only way we’ll ever officially find out about it is if a whistle-blower comes forward. So far, the few pharmaceutical industry reps who have commented on my blog have been incoherent and bizarrely defensive. (The former being a common characteristic of the pharm industry, but the latter was something new).

  nick wrote @

Wow, I see this goes back a year, I called the FDA, launched a complaint, will keep complaining until I get a response, I also would like to get together some sort of legal action about this, i know all of us have been suffering, this is really messed up and we have to determine who caused the problem in the first place. and then get our $ and our good quality meds! oh and ya the pink ones i got 3 days ago, you have to take 3x the dose, and even then the side effects are horrible. It lasts 2x less, and the price, wow i am so upset, I won’t rest until someone is determined to be responsible and then i will sue them.

  Dan wrote @

The Corepharma generic adderall is just plain TERRIBLE. It does not work at all! All it does is give me a HUGE headache and gives me bad chest spasms. Walgreens really does need to have a recall on this GARBAGE.

  Corine wrote @

Hi,
I don’t know about “legal action” but maybe, we can, and must, make some noise about this I have been writing eveywhere about this, but I need more people to contact the media. Please, send me an email, describing briefly your experience with this Ranbaxy Corepharma pill so that we can alert the media. Thanks.
Corine
metzreis@yahoo.com

  Corine wrote @

Hi,
About this generic adderall: this summer, my son, 24, experienced terrible adverse reactions with this pink pill. He has ADD and so far, CVS sold him the Barr generic. But this summer, without any warning, they sold him the Ranbaxy Corepharma pink pill 20mg. As soon as he tasted this pink pill he knew that something was seriously off. He went back to CVS but was told by the pharmacist that this pink pill “was the same recipe” as the others. Anyway, seeing what my son went trhough, I decided to do something to maybe protect other patients. I filed a complaint to the FDA , wrote to Ranbaxy, Corepharma, everywhere I could to protest. Would you guys send me an email describing your experience with these pink pills. I need help because CVS is totally ignoring me and I am not about to give up. Contact me at metzreis@yahoo.com. Thanks.

  Julie wrote @

Ok- well…holy cows! I cannot believe this, I too take Adderall (30mg 2x’s daily). I have been diagnosed with Narcolepsy…and no, I do not just fall over and go to sleep. If that were the only problem Narcolepsy had then I wouldn’t even be on meds I swear! Basically, I never sleep. What!? I know,I know… I just said I take adderall for Narcolepsy. But wait–doesn’t that mean I sleep ALL the time?? Uh, actually NO. Well, yes…technically I COULD sleep anytime, problem is I NEVER get to deep sleep. I fall asleep in 30sec-2min everytime and go straight to REM…and stay there. I then wake up and feel like (everyday) that I pretty much just stayed awake and never even slept. Have you ever stayed up for 2 days straight? How about 4? Ok, now live your life like that…everyday you have to go to work, drive, think, take care of things etc.All the while your body and brain feel like they have been up for days on end, this does not go away, you deal with it and learn to adapt to feeling like this. Hell, you even compensate somehow and hold a job, get married, have kids and then it starts to get worse. Yes, WORSE. Now is about the time I realized something is wrong, before I just naturally adapted because I knew no other way. At 26, I found out I had Narcolepsy and low and behold that it is not “normal” to have dreams and be literally paralyzed within your own body and unable to move as you start to awaken. I started having these “visions” of sorts. I could see, hear, taste, touch, hell even rationally think clearly within these horrible “visions.” One time I was convinced there were bad people in my house and I could not get up to call the police…my kids were in danger and all I could do was freak out hearing them move about as they loudly whispered to each other!! Then I “woke up” all the way and ran crying to my kids bedroom where they were sound asleep the whole time. See, my REM “dreams” (all night long), and awake times are all intermixed…I dream in this reality state so it is just like the “real” thing and distorting these sleep cylces led to the daytime “shut downs” where I start to fade like in a real sleep pattern, almost asleep no dream, but still awake. I actually thought I was losing it and/or had a brain tumor…I was unaware my N had gotten so bad that even my REM sleep was distorted (to the point of confusing it with reality). OK.OK.OK. WTF is happening to me?? And on top of all that, I start to go back to work full time after being a part time worker while my kids were 2 and under, only to findo out that during the day I am literally nodding off at work now!. I was so used to being tired all the time that I was able to “pull” myself back fairly quickly and still appear to be working for the 30-60 minute timeframe. My body was just telling my brain it was exausted and it would decide to “shut down” like when you are about to fall asleep. I would get extrememly tired and fatigued very quickly, go into “auto pilot” zone, and then snap out of it 30-60 minutes later and not remember what the hell I was doing for that amount of time. Looking over my work, I would see where I typed basic gibbersh or I would be messingly drawn on the notepad in front of me. Oh crap is all I could say besides what the worls is wrong here…off to my doc, then a sleep study, diagnosis of N, and finally… the reason I came across this site!!
My rx was basically for to try and help the daytime issues, there is NO cure for the Narcolepsy, only ways to treat the side effects. I was given Adderall 10mg to start(blue), basically like 1/2 cup coffee for me, then came 20mg(2blue)–ok, but not enough to keep me from going in and out of REM during the day. Tried the XR 20mg twice a day too, almost too much there. Finally the 30mg twice a day pills seems to be working and my original rx was for the pink corpharm round 30mg ones. The first couple of weeks went ok, by the time my next rx was due though, I was ready to give up. Most of the Adderall pills I had prior were name brand or this first generic you all mention. 2nd rx was for the orange round ones. I did even better…I actually stayed awake AND could think…AT THE SAME TIME. When i went for the next rx, it was the corpharm pink ones again. I never even cared when the pharmacist gave me the explanation of new company/new different color pills. Can’t be much different right? WRONG. No more feeling semi normal for me that month…I still chalked it up to just starting the meds and not being used to them. I could not think again, concentrate, or come up with intelligent conversations. It was not until last month (6 mo since diagnosis) that I was given yet another 30mg Adderall, this time by Barr, the peach oval ones that say b 194 on them. Not orange or pink and not round either, peach color and oval. For the past 2 months, I have felt more “awake and alive” then ever before. I can only say that those pink Corpharm ones are awful for me, I cannot deal with awful days filled with micro naps and just barely making it to the end of a work day. There HAS to be something wrong with those pink…more fillers instead of active ingrediants maybe??
I now go (for the past two rx’s) to a smaller pharmacy who gives me a Barr Brand peach colored oval 30mg pill. I will use them as long as they carry it!
WHat happened though? 3 different 30mg pills and they are all supposed to be “equal”?? Has anyone tried the peach oval ones with b 974 imprinted on them?? Opinion?? And also, many of you are on 20mg 3x’s daily, same strength as me…just different doses…are these better vs taking 2 30mg? Can I ever get back the original round orange ones??
This is crazy!!! I have to use Adderall to stay awake and funtion, my Narcolepsy is so bad that I cannot “adapt” with it anymore. If I am going to be at a loss for help with sufficient meds…I do not know…I can’t even think about it…way to scary to go back again! HELP?!

[...] I’ve been reluctant to talk to my doc about the problems I’ve experienced with the round pink generic Adderall by [...]

  LarryXA wrote @

Thx, this has definitely made my day!

_______________________
wtf

  vdubster wrote @

does anyone know what orange adderral 20mg xr powder tastes like?

  mallarina wrote @

what dr in Houston prescribes you adderall?


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